Here are the top national stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/. Please submit stories below no later than 6 pm local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly.

THIS WEEK IN WEIRD – Compilation of weird news from GateHouse papers around the country. STAFF

CAPITOL ANALYSIS: WHAT ARE TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS LOOKING TO DO? One Illinois community college could offer bachelor's degrees, and others could run their own student housing operations under separate legislative proposals that have some observers wondering: Are the state's two-year schools looking to change their traditional role?
BREAKOUT: Two house bills
COLINDRES/CAPITOL BUREAU/weekend release/posted Thursday evening/Illinois Opinion and Illinois News

LABOR DAY SPECIAL: (EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY) On Labor Day weekend, when America celebrates the nation's labor movement, founders and employees at Oncology Hematology Associates and two other central Illinois companies reflect on the democratic philosophy of their workplace, recognizing that the Wall Street model measuring performance in terms of quarterly profits is not the right model for them. For these central Illinois companies, performance is measured in terms of relationships. PEORIA/Illinois
SIDEBAR: There is a strong correlation between a company's culture and its profitability, concludes a landmark, multi-year study at Bradley University.Corporate culture has more sustained impact on long-term profitability than cost cutting, the research indicates.PEORIA/Illinois
ART: Yes (Again, must not run prior to Monday)

GAY LIFE: A few area high schools and others across the state have clubs that cater to the needs of gay and lesbian students. A Hononegah student and teacher would like to create one at Rockton's only high school but their proposal has been met with criticism and opposition. The School Board objects to the idea of a separate club for gays and will vote on the issue later this month. We take an in depth look at this issue through the eyes of other schools who have these groups in place. What has it done for their gay student population. Also we'll have state, national groups weigh in on the legalities surrounding the Schol Board's stance against this group being formed. BAXTER/LaCross/ROCKFORD/ moves 10 p.m. Friday/Illinois News

NO BALL FOR THESE GIRLS: Judge says girls can’t play ball until lawsuit is decided. HARRISBURG/this afternoon/Illinois News

MISTRESS GORGEOUS BUSTED - Police arrested a dominatrix and her husband and seized paddles, whips, handcuffs and sex toys last week after an undercover operation revealed the couple were allegedly charging $175 for a half-hour of whipping and spanking in their Brighton apartment. Allston-Brighton TAB, Cherecwith, 12 inches, on wire now

For Monday:
ILLINOIS GAME FOLLOWUP: A story that serves as a follow up to Illinois' game against Missouri, and a quick look ahead to the home opener against Western Illinois. SUPINIE/ Illinois Sports and College Sports: Football

BRITT GOLF SERIES: Series of cartoons related to golf. Chris has been at the LPGA tournament in Springfield, Ill., and has produced a series of non-specific toons that would fit into any golf-related section. BRITT/SPRINGFIELD/posted/Illinois Opinions and Cartoons

EDITORIAL: RESTORING JUSTICE - If there is one thing we have learned from the Bush administration, it is that this is not an organization that learns from — or admits — its mistakes. SPRINGFIELD/posted Thursday night/Illinois Opinions and Opinions

SZYMAN COLUMN: THE BURDEN OF WHITE PRIVILEGE - What happens to young white adults going to college who have so many advantages but return to suburban hometowns defeated, not as conquering heroes but as pent-up balls of anger and frustration? Patriot Ledger, 18 inches, 6 p.m.

COGLIANO: LABOR DAY IS FOR ALL - The fact is the unionsí numbers have been in a free fall since their heyday of the 1950ís, in large part because government has stepped in to ensure workersí rights that didnít exist when the United States was coming of economic age.

PHIL MADDOCKS: ALBERTO GONZALES FIRES HIMSELF – But a U.S. senator that the attorney general could face perjury charges if he wasn’t more forthcoming about the reasons for firing himself. Natick Bulletin and TAB, 22 inches, on wire now

RICHARD LODGE: DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL MEDS SUPPLY - Why did it take police so long to catch a black market pharmacy in the act, given its prominent location? It looks like there's a cultural gap in this equation. MetroWest Daily News, 20 inches, on wire now

Lifestyles

WORKWISE COLUMN -- What is a company’s biggest recruiting nightmare? It may be offering a job to applicants armed with a key survival technique learned in bad economies: The minute you have an inkling that a job isn’t going to work out -- for whatever reason -- duck out. If you’ve been there less than a year, you needn’t include the job on your resume. MILDRED CULP / In / Business

RAGWEED STEPS UP -- Potent allergen ragweed steps up at summer's end - Its yellow blooms are so potent, one plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains. Norwich Bulletin, Howard, 18 inches, on wire now
With photo and info box

TOP CHEFS TRAIN SCHOOLS -- There is more to modern-day school lunch than the soggy chicken fingers and extra-boiled green beans past students may remember.?
ART: pics

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